Kicking things off in London this Thursday, August 21, step into a world of fantasy with The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe at Sadler’s Wells—the classic Narnia tale brought to life with dazzling new stage magic. Over at Shakespeare’s Globe, catch Twelfth Night, a riotous comedy of mistaken identities under the historic open sky. If homegrown drama is your preference, Born With Teeth explores the feisty, high-stakes world of Shakespeare and Marlowe as rivals forced to collaborate in the heat of the Elizabethan stage.

Culture buffs, check out Jean-Francois Millet: Life On The Land at The National Gallery—Millet’s earthy, poetic French scenes are on view for the first time in 50 years in the UK, marking a major anniversary. Over at the Science Museum, The Future of Food exhibition delves into the innovations changing how we eat and farm, while The Chinese Admonitions Scroll at the British Museum serves up centuries-old art and wisdom. Don’t miss the More Than Human show at the Design Museum featuring next-wave artists and their eco-concepts.

Late-night adventures are guaranteed at Socalicious 2025 at Scala tonight. From 11 PM to 5 AM, expect specialist entertainment, high-energy DJ sets, and a vibe perfect for those who want to dance into the small hours.

The city only ramps up as the Bank Holiday weekend approaches. All Points East Festival at Victoria Park will light up East London with headliner sets from Orbital, The Blessed Madonna, and RAYE. Look out for the creative energy of the Greenwich+Docklands International Festival, with streets and parks across these neighborhoods brimming with free live arts, acrobatics, and theatre.

Nothing in August outshines Notting Hill Carnival, running this Saturday through Monday in West London. This is Europe’s biggest street festival—a full-on rolling parade of Caribbean sound systems, vibrant floats, steelpan bands, and heaping plates of jerk chicken and roti. Saturday launches with the Panorama Steel Band contest, Sunday is Family Day with costumes and kid-friendly tunes, then Monday erupts in the full Carnival experience—dancing, music, street food, and a sea of color. Londonist notes this year’s Carnival is set to be bigger than ever thanks to newly secured funding for safety and expansion.

If you fancy a more relaxed outing, head to Hampton Court Palace’s Food Festival for top-tier street food and royal feasting, or Battersea Park in Concert for family-friendly live music amid sweeping gardens. For art lovers, late-night summer openings at Chelsea Physic Garden and Westminster Abbey promise quiet, atmospheric evenings perfect for wandering.

So whether it’s theatre, street carnivals, food festivals, or midnight dancing, this week in London truly has it all. Thanks for tuning in, and remember to subscribe for the latest on what’s happening in the city. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.

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